Ezra

Ezra front

Introduction to Ezra

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of Ezra

1. The first Jewish exiles return to Jerusalem from Persia (1:1–2:70)
2. The people rebuild and dedicate the temple in Jerusalem (3:1–6:22)
3. More exiles return; Ezra teaches the Law of Yahweh (7:1-8:36)
4. The problem of the people marrying foreigners, and how it is solved (9:1–10:44)

What is the Book of Ezra about?

The Book of Ezra is about how the people of Israel returned from Babylon and tried to worship Yahweh again as the law required. To do this they needed to rebuild their temple so they could sacrifice to Yahweh. (See: temple, house, house of God)

How should the title of this book be translated?

The Book of Ezra is named for the priest Ezra who led the first group of Jews out of exile and back to Judah. Translators can use the traditional title “Ezra.” Or they might choose a clearer title, such as “The Book about Ezra.”

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

Why were Israelites not allowed to marry people from other nations?

Foreigners worshiped many false gods. Yahweh did not allow his people to marry foreigners. He knew this would cause the people of Israel to worship false gods. (See: god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry)

Did all of the people of Israel return to their homeland?

Many of the Jews remained in Babylon instead of returning to the Promised Land. Many of them were successful in Babylon and desired to remain there. However, this meant that they were unable to worship Yahweh in Jerusalem as their ancestors had done. (See: Promised Land)

Part 3: Important Translation Issues

How does the Book of Ezra use the term “Israel”?

The Book of Ezra uses the term “Israel” to refer to the kingdom of Judah. It was mostly made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The other ten tribes had ended their loyalty to any kings descended from David. God allowed the Assyrians to conquer the other ten tribes and take them into exile. As a result, they mixed with other people groups and did not return to the land of Israel. (See: Israel, Israelites)

Are the events in the Book of Ezra told in the order that they actually happened?

Some of the events in the Book of Ezra are not told in the order they actually happened. Translators should pay attention to notes that signal when events are probably out of order.

Ezra 1

Ezra 01 General Notes

Structure and formatting

The chapter records the story of the first Jews as they return from Persia to Judea.

Special concepts in this chapter

King Cyrus

King Cyrus allowed them to return because he wanted them to rebuild the temple. Those who stayed behind gave gifts to those who left to help them on their journey and resettlement. This practice was common under the reign of Cyrus and was used as a way to maintain peace throughout his kingdom. (See: temple, house, house of God)

Possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Jews

Upon return to Judea, the focus of the rest of the Old Testament is on the Jewish people.

Ezra 1:1

וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנַ֣ת אַחַ֗ת

This refers to the beginning of the reign of King Cyrus. (See: Ordinal Numbers)

מִ⁠פִּ֣י יִרְמְיָ֑ה

Here “mouth” represents speaking. Alternate translation: “Yahweh did what Jeremiah prophesied that Yahweh would do” (See: Metonymy)

יְהוָ֖ה

This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament. See the translationWord page about Yahweh concerning how to translate this.

יְהוָ֗ה אֶת־ר֨וּחַ֙ כֹּ֣רֶשׁ

Here Cyrus is represented by his spirit. This speaks of Yahweh causing Cyrus to want to act as if he “stirred” his spirit. Alternate translation: “Yahweh…made Cyrus want to act” (See: Synecdoche and Metaphor)

וַ⁠יַּֽעֲבֶר־קוֹל֙ בְּ⁠כָל־מַלְכוּת֔⁠וֹ

The voice is a metonym for the message the voice speaks, and the kingdom is a metonym for the people whom a king rules. Alternate translation: “Cyrus sent a message to everyone over whom he ruled” (See: Metonymy)

בְּ⁠מִכְתָּ֖ב לֵ⁠אמֹֽר

This can be translated in active form. It might be best to translate so the reader understands that other people might have helped Cyrus get the message to the people over whom he ruled. Alternate translation: “what Cyrus wrote and what his messengers read so people could hear them” (See: Active or Passive and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 1:2

מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָ⁠אָ֔רֶץ

Here “all” is an exaggeration, as there were kingdoms over which Cyrus did not rule. (See: Hyperbole)

ל֣⁠וֹ בַ֔יִת…בִּֽ⁠יהוּדָֽה

You may need to make explicit that the house was for people to worship Yahweh. Alternate translation: “a house in…Judea where people can worship him” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 1:3

עַמּ֗⁠וֹ

the people who belong to Yahweh.

Ezra 1:4

וְ⁠כָל־הַ⁠נִּשְׁאָ֗ר מִֽ⁠כָּל־הַ⁠מְּקֹמוֹת֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר ה֣וּא גָֽר־שָׁם֒ יְנַשְּׂא֨וּ⁠הוּ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י מְקֹמ֔⁠וֹ

Those Israelites who choose to stay where they are should help those who choose to go to Jerusalem physically and financially.

Ezra 1:5

לְ⁠כֹ֨ל הֵעִ֤יר הָ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־רוּח֔⁠וֹ לַ⁠עֲל֣וֹת

Stirring the spirit is a metonym for making someone want to act. See how you translated these words in Ezra 1:1. Alternate translation: “everyone whom God had made want to go” (See: Metonymy)

Ezra 1:6

חִזְּק֣וּ בִֽ⁠ידֵי⁠הֶ֔ם

This refers to the work of the people roused by God in the previous verse.

Ezra 1:8

מִתְרְדָ֣ת…לְ⁠שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֔ר

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

וַ⁠יּֽוֹצִיאֵ֗⁠ם…עַל־יַ֖ד מִתְרְדָ֣ת הַ⁠גִּזְבָּ֑ר

Putting an object into someone’s hand is a metaphor for allowing that person to do what he wants with that object. Here the reader should understand that Cyrus expected Mithredath to do what Cyrus wanted him to do. Alternate translation: “put Mithredath the treasurer in charge of them” or “made Mithredath the treasurer responsible for them” (See: Metaphor)

הַ⁠גִּזְבָּ֑ר

official in charge of money

Ezra 1:9

This is a list of numbered items.

שְׁלֹשִׁ֗ים…אָ֔לֶף…תִּשְׁעָ֥ה וְ⁠עֶשְׂרִֽים

“30…1,000…29” (See: Numbers)

אֲגַרְטְלֵי

objects used to hold water for washing

Ezra 1:10

אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת וַ⁠עֲשָׂרָ֑ה

“30…1,000…29…four hundred and ten” (See: Numbers)

כְּפ֤וֹרֵי

objects used to hold water for washing

Ezra 1:11

חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וְ⁠אַרְבַּ֣ע מֵא֑וֹת

“five thousand four hundred…in all.” This is the total number of items returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, which are listed above individually. (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2

Ezra 02 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Genealogy

People had to prove they were priests, or that they were Jews, through their genealogies. (See: priest, priesthood)

Ezra 2:1

This begins a list of the names of people who returned from the exile.

הָֽ⁠עֹלִים֙

This is an idiom that refers to traveling toward Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “returned” or “came back” (See: Idiom)

Ezra 2:2

שְׂרָיָ֨ה רְֽעֵלָיָ֜ה מָרְדֳּכַ֥י בִּלְשָׁ֛ן מִסְפָּ֥ר בִּגְוַ֖י רְח֣וּם בַּעֲנָ֑ה

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

מִסְפַּ֕ר

This refers to the list of men in 2:3-35.

Ezra 2:3

This continues the list of the names of people who returned from the exile along with the number in each group. (See: Numbers)

פַרְעֹ֔שׁ

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:4

שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:5

אָרַ֔ח

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:6

פַחַ֥ת מוֹאָ֛ב…יֵשׁ֖וּעַ

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:7

This continues the list of the names of people who returned from the exile along with the number in each group. (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:8

זַתּ֔וּא

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:9

זַכָּ֔י

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:10

בָנִ֔י

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:11

This continues the list of the names of people who returned from the exile along with the number in each group. (See: Numbers)

בֵבָ֔י

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:12

עַזְגָּ֔ד

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:13

אֲדֹ֣נִיקָ֔ם

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:14

בִגְוָ֔י

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:2.

Ezra 2:15

This continues the list of the names of people who returned from the exile along with the number in each group. (See: Numbers)

עָדִ֔ין

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:16

אָטֵ֥ר

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁמֹנָֽה

“98” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:17

בֵצָ֔י

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:19

This continues the list of people who returned from the exile along with the number in each group. Notice that staring in 2:21 these now are the names of places from where they originally came. (See: Numbers)

חָשֻׁ֔ם

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:20

גִבָּ֖ר

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וַ⁠חֲמִשָּֽׁה

“95” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:21

בְּנֵ֣י בֵֽית־לָ֔חֶם

This begins to list the number of people whose ancestors had lived in towns in Judah. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 2:22

חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וְ⁠שִׁשָּֽׁה

“56” (See: Numbers)

נְטֹפָ֖ה

This is the name of a town in Judah. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:23

This continues the list people who returned from the exile along with the number in each group whose ancestors came from the places listed. (See: Numbers)

עֲנָת֔וֹת

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:24

עַזְמָ֖וֶת

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁנָֽיִם

“42” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:25

קִרְיַ֤ת עָרִים֙ כְּפִירָ֣ה וּ⁠בְאֵר֔וֹת

These are names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:26

וָ⁠גָ֔בַע

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:27

This continues with the list of people who returned from the exile along with the number in each group whose ancestors came from the places listed. (See: Numbers)

מִכְמָ֔ס

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:29

נְב֖וֹ

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁנָֽיִ

“52” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:30

מַגְבִּ֔ישׁ

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:31

This continues with the list of people who returned from the exile along with the number in each group whose ancestors came from the places listed. (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:32

חָרִ֔ם

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:33

לֹד֙ חָדִ֣יד וְ⁠אוֹנ֔וֹ

These are names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:34

This continues with the list of people who returned from the exile along with the number in each group whose ancestors came from the places listed. (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:35

סְנָאָ֔ה

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:36

This section lists the names of priests whose descendants returned from the exile along with the number in each group. (See: Numbers)

יְדַֽעְיָה֙

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

יֵשׁ֔וּעַ

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:6.

Ezra 2:39

חָרִ֔ם

The “Harim” in Ezra 2:32 is the name of a place, but here “Harim” is the name of a man.

Ezra 2:40

This section lists the names of Levites whose descendants returned from the exile along with the number in each group. (See: How to Translate Names and Numbers)

וְ⁠קַדְמִיאֵ֛ל…הוֹדַוְיָ֖ה

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

שִׁבְעִ֥ים וְ⁠אַרְבָּעָֽה

“74” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:42

שַׁלּ֤וּם…אָטֵר֙…טַלְמ֣וֹן…עַקּ֔וּב…חֲטִיטָ֖א…שֹׁבָ֑י

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַ⁠שֹּֽׁעֲרִ֗ים

those in charge of who goes through the gates of the temple

אָטֵר֙

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:16.

Ezra 2:43

This section continues listing the names of Levites whose descendants returned from the exile.

צִיחָ֥א…חֲשׂוּפָ֖א…טַבָּעֽוֹת

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:44

קֵרֹ֥ס…סִֽיעֲהָ֖א…פָדֽוֹן

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:45

לְבָנָ֥ה…חֲגָבָ֖ה

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

עַקּֽוּב

See how you translated this in Ezra 2:42.

Ezra 2:46

חָגָ֥ב…שַׁלְמַ֖י…חָנָֽן

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:47

This section continues listing the names of Levites whose descendants returned from the exile. These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:51

This section continues listing the names of Levites whose descendants returned from the exile. These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:55

This section continues listing the names of Levites whose descendants returned from the exile. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:58

שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁנָֽיִם

“three hundred and ninety-two total descendants.” This is the number of all the people in this group who came back from the exile. (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:59

This is a list of people who had returned to Israel from various Babylonian cities but could not prove their heritage. (See: Numbers and How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:60

שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁנָֽיִם

“six hundred and fifty-two descendants.” (See: Numbers)

דְלָיָ֥ה…טוֹבִיָּ֖ה…נְקוֹדָ֑א

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:61

חֳבַיָּ֖ה…הַקּ֑וֹץ…בַרְזִלַּ֗י

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 2:62

כְתָבָ֛⁠ם הַ⁠מִּתְיַחְשִׂ֖ים

the records that told who their ancestors were

וְ⁠לֹ֣א נִמְצָ֑אוּ

“could not find their names in the records of the priests”

וַֽ⁠יְגֹאֲל֖וּ מִן־הַ⁠כְּהֻנָּֽה

This can be translated in active form. The abstract noun “priesthood” can be translated as the verb “work as priests.” Alternate translation: “the other priests treated them as if they were unclean and did not allow them to work as priests” (See: Active or Passive and Abstract Nouns)

וַֽ⁠יְגֹאֲל֖וּ

not fit to be priests

Ezra 2:63

לְ⁠אוּרִ֥ים וּ⁠לְ⁠תֻמִּֽים

two items like dice that the priests used to decide what God wanted them to do

Ezra 2:64

כָּל־הַ⁠קָּהָ֖ל

This means the whole group that returned back to the land of Judah from the exile.

אַרְבַּ֣ע רִבּ֔וֹא אַלְפַּ֖יִם שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת שִׁשִּֽׁים

“forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:65

וְ⁠אַמְהֹֽתֵי⁠הֶם֙

“their female servants”

אֵ֔לֶּה שִׁבְעַ֣ת אֲלָפִ֔ים שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים וְ⁠שִׁבְעָ֑ה

“these were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven” (See: Numbers)

מָאתָֽיִם

“200” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:66

This is a list of the animals along with the numbers of each kind that returned with the people from the exile. (See: Numbers)

Ezra 2:69

שֵׁשׁ־רִבֹּ֣אות וָ⁠אֶ֔לֶףס…חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֑ים…כֹּהֲנִ֖ים מֵאָֽה

“61,000…5,000…100” (See: Numbers)

זָהָ֗ב דַּרְכְּמוֹנִים֙

A “daric” was a small gold coin used by the Persian Empire. (See: Biblical Money)

מָנִ֖ים

A mina is a unit of weight. One mina equals 550 grams. Minas are normally linked with measuring silver. (See: Biblical Weight)

וְ⁠כָתְנֹ֥ת

garments worn next to the skin

Ezra 2:70

בְּ⁠עָרֵי⁠הֶ֑ם וְ⁠כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּ⁠עָרֵי⁠הֶֽם

Everyone went back to their home towns in Judea. Not everyone resettled in Jerusalem.

Ezra 3

Ezra 03 General Notes

Structure and formatting

This chapter begins the story of the building of the temple and re-establishment of worship in the new temple. (See: temple, house, house of God)

Special concepts in this chapter

Rebuilding the temple

They immediately began the temple worship, even though the temple had not yet been built because they feared the people of the surrounding nations.

Ezra 3:1

הַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הַ⁠שְּׁבִיעִ֔י

This is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is at the end of the dry season and the beginning of the early rain season. It is during the last part of September and the first part of October on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

כְּ⁠אִ֥ישׁ אֶחָ֖ד

One man is in only one place and has only one purpose. Alternate translation: “for one purpose” (See: Simile)

Ezra 3:2

יֵשׁ֨וּעַ

This is the name of a man. Translate the same as in Ezra 2:36.

שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל֙

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

וַ⁠יָּקָם֩…וַ⁠יִּבְנ֕וּ

Standing up is a metaphor for beginning to act. Alternate translation: “began to act and built” (See: Metaphor)

כַּ⁠כָּת֕וּב בְּ⁠תוֹרַ֖ת מֹשֶׁ֥ה

This can be translated in active form. You may need to make explicit whom and what Yahweh had commanded. Alternate translation: “as Yahweh had commanded them to do in the law of Moses” (See: Active or Passive and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 3:3

וַ⁠יָּכִ֤ינוּ הַ⁠מִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ עַל־מְכ֣וֹנֹתָ֔י⁠ו

“mounted the altar on its stand” or “placed the altar on its stand so it would stay there”

בְּ⁠אֵימָ֣ה עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֔ם

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “they were very afraid” (See: Idiom)

מֵ⁠עַמֵּ֖י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֑וֹת

You may need to make explicit what it was about the people of the land that made the Jews afraid. Alternate translation: “because they thought the people of the land wanted to attack them” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וַיַּעֲל֨וּ עָלָ֤י⁠ו עֹלוֹת֙ לַֽ⁠יהוָ֔ה עֹל֖וֹת לַ⁠בֹּ֥קֶר וְ⁠לָ⁠עָֽרֶב

One of the first things the people did was to begin offering sacrifices. This was before the temple was rebuilt.

Ezra 3:4

אֶת־חַ֥ג הַ⁠סֻּכּ֖וֹת

This is a festival that was celebrated for eight days during the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It was associated with the time of the exodus when the Israelites lived in tents. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 3:6

מִ⁠יּ֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ

This is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. The first day is near the middle of September on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

וְ⁠הֵיכַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֥א יֻסָּֽד

The Jews began the ceremonies of worship even before they started building the temple. Alternate translation: “they had not yet laid the foundation for the temple” (See: Active or Passive)

Ezra 3:7

כְּ⁠רִשְׁי֛וֹן כּ֥וֹרֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־פָּרַ֖ס עֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם

The letters sent by Cyrus gave the Jews permission to buy materials and build the temple.

Ezra 3:8

בַּ⁠חֹ֖דֶשׁ הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֑י

This is the second month of the Hebrew calendar. This is during the warm season when people are harvesting crops. It is during the last part of April and the first part of May on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

וּ⁠בַ⁠שָּׁנָ֣ה הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֗ית

This is during the year after the one in which they returned. (See: Ordinal Numbers)

אֶל־בֵּ֤ית הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙

You may need to make explicit that there was no house of God standing when they arrived. Alternate translation: “to where the house of God had stood” or “to where they were going to build the house of God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וְ⁠יֵשׁ֨וּעַ…יֽוֹצָדָ֜ק

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מִ⁠בֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙

“20 years old” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 3:9

יֵשׁ֡וּעַ…חֵֽנָדָ֔ד

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

קַדְמִיאֵ֨ל

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:40.

Ezra 3:10

וְ⁠יִסְּד֥וּ

“foundation” in this sense was more than just the stone blocks to support the temple walls. It included the entire temple floor set in stone. This enabled all the temple worshipers to wear their special garments and keep them clean.

מְלֻבָּשִׁ֜ים

“their special robes”

בַּֽ⁠מְצִלְתַּ֔יִם

two thin, round metal plates that are hit together to make a loud sound (See: Translate Unknowns)

יְדֵ֖י דָּוִ֥יד

The hand of a king is a metonym for the power to give commands. Alternate translation: “as David…had commanded” (See: Metonymy)

Ezra 3:11

וּ⁠בְ⁠הוֹדֹ֤ת

A feeling and expression of appreciation and gratitude for the kindness of another.

כִּֽי־לְ⁠עוֹלָ֥ם חַסְדּ֖⁠וֹ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל

The abstract noun “faithfulness” can be stated as “faithfully” or “faithful.” Alternate translation: “He faithfully loves Israel forever” or “He is always faithful to his covenant with Israel” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ezra 3:12

אֶת־הַ⁠בַּ֤יִת הָֽ⁠רִאשׁוֹן֙

This refers to the first temple that Solomon built, the house of God. (See: Metonymy)

בְּ⁠עֵ֣ינֵי⁠הֶ֔ם

The people are represented by their “eyes” to emphasize what they saw. Alternate translation: “in their sight” or “and they saw it” (See: Synecdoche)

בֹּכִ֖ים בְּ⁠ק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל

This refers to emotional expression of sorrow involving tears and vocal sounds.

Ezra 4

Ezra 04 General Notes

Structure and formatting

The story of the building of the temple and re-establishment of the temple worship continues in this chapter. (See: temple, house, house of God)

Special concepts in this chapter

Helping to build the temple

The people of the surrounding nations offered to help to build the temple. It is unknown why the Jews refused their help. These other people became their enemies and tried to hinder the work. They even persuaded the king of Persia to stop the Jews from building.

Ezra 4:1

The non-Jewish people offer to help build the temple.

בְנֵ֤י הַ⁠גּוֹלָה֙

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “whom the Babylonians had taken into exile” (See: Active or Passive)

Ezra 4:2

זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:2. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֵסַ֤ר חַדֹּן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר

He ruled in Assyria before Cyrus ruled in Persia. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 4:3

וְ⁠יֵשׁ֗וּעַ

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:6.

לֹֽא־לָ֣⁠כֶם וָ⁠לָ֔⁠נוּ לִ⁠בְנ֥וֹת בַּ֖יִת לֵ⁠אלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ

Possible meanings are (1) the Jewish leader felt that Cyrus had authorized only them to build the temple or (2) building the temple was the exclusive work of the Jews and no non-Jew would be permitted to contribute to the work.

Ezra 4:4

עַם־הָ⁠אָ֔רֶץ

“the people who were living in the land at that time,” which could include non-Jews and Jews whose families the Babylonians had not taken into exile

וַ⁠יְהִי֙…מְרַפִּ֖ים יְדֵ֣י עַם־יְהוּדָ֑ה

This speaks of the people of the land discouraging the Judeans as if they made their hands physically weak. Alternate translation: “discouraged the Judeans” (See: Metaphor)

עַם־יְהוּדָ֑ה

people who returned from Babylon and settled in the land of Judah

Ezra 4:5

לְ⁠הָפֵ֣ר עֲצָתָ֑⁠ם

“to make it so the Judeans could not build the temple as they had planned”

Ezra 4:6

כָּתְב֣וּ שִׂטְנָ֔ה עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וִ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָֽם

The abstract nouns “accusation” can be translated as a verb “accuse.” You may need to make explicit what the enemies accused the Judeans of doing. Alternate translation: “wrote a letter in which they accused those who lived in Judah and Jerusalem of disobeying the king” (See: Abstract Nouns and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 4:7

בִּשְׁלָ֜ם מִתְרְדָ֤ת טָֽבְאֵל֙

names of men (See: How to Translate Names)

הַֽ⁠נִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ן

This is the letter spoken of in Ezra 4:6.

אֲרָמִ֖ית

the language used in that area at the time for official business

וּ⁠מְתֻרְגָּ֥ם

into Persian

Ezra 4:8

וְ⁠שִׁמְשַׁי֙

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

רְח֣וּם

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:1.

Ezra 4:9

אֱדַ֜יִן…שֽׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵ֔⁠א

names of cities (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 4:10

אָסְנַפַּר֙

This is a name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

וּ⁠שְׁאָ֥ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖⁠ה

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 4:11

דְּנָה֙ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן אִגַּרְתָּ֔⁠א

Ezra includes in his writing the content of the letter sent to King Artaxerxes.

אֱנָ֥שׁ עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֖⁠ה

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 4:12

קִרְיְתָ֨⁠א מָֽרָדְתָּ֤⁠א ו⁠באישת⁠א

The city is a metonym for the people who live in it. Alternate translation: “a city that they plan to live in and rebel against you” (See: Metonymy)

וְ⁠אֻשַּׁיָּ֖⁠א יַחִֽיטוּ

“fixed the foundations” or “mended the foundations”

Ezra 4:13

הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥⁠א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְ⁠שׁוּרַיָּ֖⁠ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “if they build the city and complete the wall” (See: Active or Passive)

וְ⁠אַפְּתֹ֥ם מַלְכִ֖ים תְּהַנְזִֽק

The word “harm” refers to the Judeans no longer giving money to the kings.

Ezra 4:14

מְלַ֤ח הֵֽיכְלָ⁠א֙ מְלַ֔חְנָא

Possible meanings are that this refers to (1) the writers being loyal to the king or (2) the king giving the writers special honors. Alternate translation: “we are loyal to you” or “you have honored us by making us your officials” (See: Metonymy)

Ezra 4:15

קִרְיָ֣א מָֽרָדָ֗א

The city is a metonym for the people who live in it. Alternate translation: “a city in which live people who have rebelled against your father” (See: Metonymy)

קִרְיְתָ֥⁠א דָ֖ךְ הָֽחָרְבַֽת

This can be translated in active form, in which case you will need to make explicit who destroyed the city. The “city” represents the people who live in it. Alternate translation: “the Babylonians destroyed the city” (See: Active or Passive and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Metonymy)

Ezra 4:16

הֵ֣ן קִרְיְתָ֥⁠א דָךְ֙ תִּתְבְּנֵ֔א וְ⁠שׁוּרַיָּ֖⁠ה יִֽשְׁתַּכְלְל֑וּן

This can be translated in active form. See how you translated these words in Ezra 4:13. Alternate translation: “if they build the city and wall” (See: Active or Passive)

חֲלָק֙…לָ֥א אִיתַ֖י לָֽ⁠ךְ

Here “nothing” is an exaggeration to make the king think that he will be losing much tax money if the Judeans rebel. (See: Hyperbole)

בַּ⁠עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔⁠א

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 4:17

וּ⁠שְׁאָ֧ר עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛⁠ה

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

רְח֤וּם

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:2.

וְ⁠שִׁמְשַׁ֣י

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:8.

נַהֲרָ֛⁠ה

the Euphrates River

Ezra 4:18

נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֕⁠א דִּ֥י שְׁלַחְתּ֖וּן עֲלֶ֑י⁠נָא מְפָרַ֥שׁ קֱרִ֖י

This can be translated in active form, in which case you will need to make explicit who translated and read the letter to the king. Alternate translation: “I have had my servants translate and read the letter that you sent to me” (See: Active or Passive)

Ezra 4:20

בְּ⁠כֹ֖ל עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑⁠ה

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

וּ⁠מִדָּ֥ה בְל֛וֹ וַ⁠הֲלָ֖ךְ מִתְיְהֵ֥ב לְ⁠הֽוֹן

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “The people in Jerusalem paid tribute and taxes to those kings” or “Those kings were able to collect tribute and taxes” (See: Active or Passive)

Ezra 4:21

שִׂ֣ימוּ טְּעֵ֔ם

“make a law”

Ezra 4:22

וּ⁠זְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹ שָׁל֖וּ

The litotes “not to neglect” is an understatement to emphasize that the writers want Artaxerxes to do what they tell him to do. Alternate translation: “Be careful to do this” (See: Litotes)

לְ⁠מָה֙ יִשְׂגֵּ֣א חֲבָלָ֔⁠א לְ⁠הַנְזָקַ֖ת מַלְכִֽין

Artaxerxes uses a question to tell them that he understands that he will lose taxes and honor if the city is built. Alternate translation: “You must make sure that this threat does not grow and cause more loss for the royal interests.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

יִשְׂגֵּ֣א חֲבָלָ֔⁠א

Danger is spoken of as if it were a plant that could increase in size. Alternate translation: “danger to become worse” (See: Metaphor)

לְ⁠הַנְזָקַ֖ת מַלְכִֽין

The words “the royal interests” are a metonym for the king himself. Alternate translation: “cause more bad things to happen to the kings” (See: Metonymy)

Ezra 4:23

פַּרְשֶׁ֤גֶן נִשְׁתְּוָנָ⁠א֙ דִּ֚י ארתחששתא מַלְכָּ֔⁠א קֱרִ֧י

This can be translated in active form, in which case you will need to make explicit who read the decree from the king to the officials. Alternate translation: “The messengers from King Artaxerxes read his decree” (See: Active or Passive and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

רְח֛וּם

See how you translated this in Ezra 2:1.

וְ⁠שִׁמְשַׁ֥י

See how you translated this in Ezra 4:7.

Ezra 4:24

בְּטֵלַת֙ עֲבִידַ֣ת בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֔⁠א דִּ֖י בִּ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם וַ⁠הֲוָת֙ בָּֽטְלָ֔א עַ֚ד שְׁנַ֣ת תַּרְתֵּ֔ין לְ⁠מַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ

This delay lasted about 16 years.

Ezra 5

Ezra 05 General Notes

Structure and formatting

The story of the building of the temple and re-establishment of the temple worship continues in this chapter. (See: temple, house, house of God)

Special concepts in this chapter

Rebuilding the temple

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the Jews to begin again building the temple. This was very important to life in Judah. (See: prophet, prophecy, prophesy, seer, prophetess)

Ezra 5:1

עִדּוֹא֙

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 5:2

וְ⁠יֵשׁ֣וּעַ…יֽוֹצָדָ֔ק

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל֙

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 3:1.

לְ⁠מִבְנֵ֔א בֵּ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖⁠א

This was the temple of God.

Ezra 5:3

תַּ֠תְּנַי…וּ⁠שְׁתַ֥ר בּוֹזְנַ֖י

men’s names (See: How to Translate Names)

עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֛⁠ה

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated it in Ezra 4:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 5:5

וְ⁠עֵ֣ין אֱלָהֲ⁠הֹ֗ם הֲוָת֙ עַל

The eye represents the person watching over another person. Alternate translation: “God was watching over” (See: Synecdoche)

טַעְמָ֖⁠א לְ⁠דָרְיָ֣וֶשׁ יְהָ֑ךְ וֶ⁠אֱדַ֛יִן יְתִיב֥וּן נִשְׁתְּוָנָ֖⁠א עַל־דְּנָֽה

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “for an official to send a letter to the king and for the king to send a letter back to them with a decree” (See: Active or Passive)

Ezra 5:6

פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן אִ֠גַּרְתָּ⁠א

Ezra includes the contents of the letter to King Darius regarding their work on the temple.

פַּחַ֣ת עֲבַֽר־נַהֲרָ֗⁠ה

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated this in Ezra 4:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 5:8

The letter from Tattenai to the king that began in Ezra 5:7 continues.

וְ⁠אָ֖ע

wood for building

Ezra 5:9

מַן־שָׂ֨ם לְ⁠כֹ֜ם טְעֵ֗ם

“Who gave you permission”

Ezra 5:11

The letter from Tattenai to the king that began in Ezra 5:7 continues.

אֲנַ֣חְנָא הִמּ֡וֹ עַבְדוֹ⁠הִי֩ דִֽי־אֱלָ֨הּ

Possible meaning are (1) they were calling the Jewish people servants of God or (2) those who replied were from the tribe of Levi and Aaron, who were the ones actually responsible for the temple worship and sacrifices.

דִּֽי־הֲוָ֨א בְנֵ֜ה מִ⁠קַּדְמַ֤ת דְּנָה֙ שְׁנִ֣ין שַׂגִּיאָ֔ן וּ⁠מֶ֤לֶךְ לְ⁠יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ רַ֔ב בְּנָ֖⁠הִי וְ⁠שַׁכְלְלֵֽ⁠הּ

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “that the great king of Israel had built and supplied all the equipment for” (See: Active or Passive)

וְ⁠שַׁכְלְלֵֽ⁠הּ

“supplied all the equipment for it”

Ezra 5:12

The letter from Tattenai to the king continues. Tattenai continues to tell the king what the Judeans had told him beginning in Ezra 5:11.

הַרְגִּ֤זוּ…לֶ⁠אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔⁠א

“made the God of heaven become very angry with us”

יְהַ֣ב הִמּ֔וֹ בְּ⁠יַ֛ד נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל כַּסְדָּאָ֑ה וּ⁠בַיְתָ֤⁠ה דְנָה֙ סַתְרֵ֔⁠הּ וְ⁠עַמָּ֖⁠ה הַגְלִ֥י לְ⁠בָבֶֽל

The hand is a metonym for power or control. Also, “Nebuchadnezzar” represents his army. Alternate translation: “allowed the army of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the Chaldean, to destroy this house and to take the people” (See: Metonymy)

וּ⁠בַיְתָ֤⁠ה דְנָה֙ סַתְרֵ֔⁠הּ

“tore down this house”

Ezra 5:13

כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ⁠א֙ שָׂ֣ם טְעֵ֔ם בֵּית־אֱלָהָ֥⁠א דְנָ֖ה לִ⁠בְּנֵֽא

Cyrus ordered that the people rebuild God’s temple.

Ezra 5:14

The letter from Tattenai to the king that began in Ezra 5:7 continues. Tattenai continues to tell the king what the Judeans had told him beginning in (Ezra 5:11).

לְ⁠שֵׁשְׁבַּצַּ֣ר

See how you translated this in Ezra 1:7.

וִ⁠יהִ֨יבוּ֙

King Cyrus returned the temple objects.

Ezra 5:15

וּ⁠בֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖⁠א יִתְבְּנֵ֥א

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “I want the Judeans to rebuild the house of God” (See: Active or Passive)

Ezra 5:16

The letter from Tattenai to the king that began in Ezra 5:7 continues. Tattenai continues to tell the king what the Judeans had told him beginning in (Ezra 5:11).

מִתְבְּנֵ֖א וְ⁠לָ֥א שְׁלִֽם

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “people are now constructing it, but they have not done all the work yet” (See: Active or Passive)

מִתְבְּנֵ֖א

built

Ezra 5:17

The letter from Tattenai to the king that began in Ezra 5:7 continues. Tattenai has finished telling the king what the Judeans told him and now asks the king to see if what the Judeans told him was true.

יִ֠תְבַּקַּר

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “I would like you to have someone investigate this matter” (See: Active or Passive)

הֵ֣ן אִיתַ֗י דִּֽי־מִן־כּ֤וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ⁠א֙ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵ֔ם

“if there is a record there that King Cyrus issued a law”

Ezra 6

Ezra 06 General Notes

Structure and formatting

The completion of the story of the building of the temple and re-establishment of the temple worship occurs in this chapter. (See: temple, house, house of God)

Special concepts in this chapter

Temple taxes

The king said the Jews were right and ordered money from his taxes to be used to help them with their sacrifices.

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Darius

In this chapter, Darius is called the king of Assyria. In reality, besides ruling over the former Assyrian Empire, Darius was also king of Persia. Persia had conquered Babylon, which had previously conquered Assyria. This made the king of Persia, the king of Assyria as well. It was unusual to refer to Darius as the king or ruler of Assyria. Ezra may have referred to him in this way to contrast Darius’ actions with those of the former rulers of Assyria, who had treated the Jews very cruelly. It was those earlier Assyrian rulers who had conquered the northern tribes of Israel and deported them to other lands. It was for this reasons that the northern tribes lost their identity and were no longer a distinct people group.

Ezra 6:1

שָׂ֣ם טְעֵ֑ם וּ⁠בַקַּ֣רוּ

The abstract noun “investigation” can be expressed with the verbs “investigate” or “search.” Alternate translation: “ordered his officials to investigate” or “ordered his officials to search” (See: Abstract Nouns)

שָׂ֣ם טְעֵ֑ם וּ⁠בַקַּ֣רוּ

What they were to investigate can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “ordered his officials to investigate the records” or “ordered his officials to search and find out if there was a record of King Cyrus telling the Jews to build the house of God in Jerusalem” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

בְּ⁠בֵ֣ית סִפְרַיָּ֗⁠א דִּ֧י גִנְזַיָּ֛⁠א מְהַחֲתִ֥ין

This is a building where the king’s officials kept the important government records.

Ezra 6:2

בְּ⁠אַחְמְתָ֗א

This is the name of a city. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠הִשְׁתְּכַ֣ח…מְגִלָּ֣ה חֲדָ֑ה

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “they found a scroll” or “they found a scroll that told about Darius and Jerusalem” (See: Active or Passive and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 6:3

This begins the record of King Cyrus’s command that the Jews rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem.

בִּ⁠שְׁנַ֨ת חֲדָ֜ה לְ⁠כ֣וֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּ֗⁠א

It can be stated clearly that this is the first year of his reign. Alternate translation: “In year 1 of the reign of King Cyrus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Numbers)

בַּיְתָ֣⁠א יִתְבְּנֵ֔א

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Let the Jews rebuild the house” or “The Jews must rebuild the house” (See: Active or Passive)

אַמִּ֣ין שִׁתִּ֔ין

“60 cubits.” You may convert this to a modern measure. Alternate translation: “twenty-seven meters” (See: Numbers and Biblical Distance)

Ezra 6:4

נִדְבָּכִ֞ין דִּי־אֶ֤בֶן גְּלָל֙ תְּלָתָ֔א וְ⁠נִדְבָּ֖ךְ דִּי־אָ֣ע חֲדַ֑ת

This can be stated as a new sentence. Possible meanings are (1) this describes how to build the foundation. Alternate translation: “Build the foundation on three layers of large stones covered with one layer of timber” or (2) this describes how to build the walls. Alternate translation: “Build the house’s walls with three layers of large stones alternating with one layer of timber” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וְ⁠נִ֨פְקְתָ֔⁠א מִן־בֵּ֥ית מַלְכָּ֖⁠א תִּתְיְהִֽב

The phrase “the king’s house” represents King Cyrus’s own wealth in the royal treasury. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “I will pay for it with money from the royal treasury” (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

Ezra 6:6

This continues the record of King Cyrus’s command that the Jews rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem, which began in Ezra 6:3.

תַּ֠תְּנַי…שְׁתַ֤ר בּוֹזְנַי֙

Darius writes directly to these men. Translate their names as in Ezra 5:3. (See: How to Translate Names)

וּ⁠כְנָוָ֣תְ⁠ה֔וֹן…בַּ⁠עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑⁠ה

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated it in Ezra 4:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 6:8

This continues the record of King Cyrus’s command that the Jews rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem, which began in Ezra 6:3.

וּ⁠מִ⁠נִּכְסֵ֣י מַלְכָּ֗⁠א דִּ֚י מִדַּת֙ עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔⁠ה אָסְפַּ֗רְנָא נִפְקְתָ֛⁠א תֶּהֱוֵ֧א

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Use funds from the king’s tribute beyond the river to pay these men” (See: Active or Passive)

וּ⁠מִ⁠נִּכְסֵ֣י מַלְכָּ֗⁠א דִּ֚י מִדַּת֙ עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔⁠ה

“The king’s tribute” refers to taxes that people pay the king. Alternate translation: “Money from the taxes that you collect for the king from the people beyond the river” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 6:11

This continues the record of King Cyrus’s command that the Jews rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem, which began in Ezra 6:3.

יִתְנְסַ֥ח אָע֙ מִן־בַּיְתֵ֔⁠הּ וּ⁠זְקִ֖יף יִתְמְחֵ֣א עֲלֹ֑⁠הִי וּ⁠בַיְתֵ֛⁠הּ נְוָל֥וּ יִתְעֲבֵ֖ד עַל־דְּנָֽה

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “I command my officials to pull a beam from his house and impale him on it. They are then to turn his house into a rubbish heap” (See: Active or Passive)

אָע֙

a long, sturdy piece of wood, supporting the roof of a house

יִתְמְחֵ֣א

pierced through

Ezra 6:12

דִּ֣י׀ יִשְׁלַ֣ח יְדֵ֗⁠הּ לְ⁠הַשְׁנָיָ֛ה לְ⁠חַבָּלָ֛ה

Lifting the hand represents trying or daring to do something. Alternate translation: “who tries to change…or to destroy” or “who dares to change…or to destroy” (See: Metonymy)

לְ⁠הַשְׁנָיָ֛ה

The abstract noun “decree” can be expressed with the phrase “what I have decreed.” Alternate translation: “to change what I have decreed” or “to say that I have decreed something else” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ezra 6:13

תַּתְּנַ֞י…שְׁתַ֥ר בּוֹזְנַ֖י

Translate the names of these men as you did in Ezra 5:3. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 6:15

וְ⁠שֵׁיצִיא֙ בַּיְתָ֣⁠ה דְנָ֔ה

This can be translated in active form. You may need to make explicit which house they completed. Alternate translation: “They completed God’s house” or “They finished building the temple” (See: Active or Passive and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

י֥וֹם תְּלָתָ֖ה לִ⁠ירַ֣ח אֲדָ֑ר

“Adar” is the name of the twelfth and last month of the Hebrew calendar. It is during the cold season. The third day is near the middle of February on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and How to Translate Names and Ordinal Numbers)

שְׁנַת־שֵׁ֔ת

King Darius had been ruling for five years, so he was now in year number six of his reign. (See: Ordinal Numbers)

Ezra 6:16

וּ⁠שְׁאָ֣ר בְּנֵי־גָלוּתָ֗⁠א

These people had been captured and taken to Babylon, but they returned to Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “the rest of the people who had been taken captive to Babylon and had returned to Jerusalem” or “the rest of the people who had returned from captivity” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 6:17

תּוֹרִ֣ין מְאָ֔ה…אִמְּרִ֖ין אַרְבַּ֣ע מְאָ֑ה

“100 bulls…400 lambs” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 6:18

בְּ⁠מַחְלְקָ֣תְ⁠ה֔וֹן

“groups that work together”

Ezra 6:19

בְּ⁠אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר לַ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשֽׁוֹן

This is the first month of the Hebrew calendar. The fourteenth day is near the beginning of April on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

Ezra 6:20

הִֽטַּהֲר֞וּ

“made themselves pure.” Being pure represents being acceptable to God. Alternate translation: “made themselves acceptable to God” (See: Metaphor)

Ezra 6:21

הַ⁠נִּבְדָּ֛ל מִ⁠טֻּמְאַ֥ת גּוֹיֵֽ־הָ⁠אָ֖רֶץ

Separating themselves from uncleanness represents refusing to do things that make people unclean. Alternate translation: “They refused to do the things that the people of the land did that made them unclean” (See: Metaphor)

מִ⁠טֻּמְאַ֥ת גּוֹיֵֽ־הָ⁠אָ֖רֶץ

Here “uncleanness” represents being unacceptable to God. Alternate translation: “the things that the people of the land did that made them unacceptable to God” (See: Metaphor)

לִ⁠דְרֹ֕שׁ לַֽ⁠יהוָ֖ה

Seeking Yahweh represents choosing to know, worship, and obey him. Alternate translation: “chose to obey Yahweh” (See: Metaphor)

Ezra 6:22

וְֽ⁠הֵסֵ֞ב לֵ֤ב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙

Turning the king’s heart represents making him think differently about the work of the temple. Alternate translation: “changed the attitude of Assyria’s king” or “made Assyria’s king willing” (See: Metonymy)

לְ⁠חַזֵּ֣ק יְדֵי⁠הֶ֔ם בִּ⁠מְלֶ֥אכֶת בֵּית־הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֖ים

Strengthening their hands in the work represents helping them to work. The Assyrian king did this by telling them to do the work and providing the money for it. Alternate translation: “to help them do the work of his house” or “to make it possible for them to do the work of his house” (See: Metaphor)

בִּ⁠מְלֶ֥אכֶת בֵּית־הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֖ים

This refers to building the temple.

Ezra 7

Ezra 07 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Ezra begins his religious reforms.

Special concepts in this chapter

God’s Law

The people no longer know the law of Moses. Therefore, the king allows Ezra to return to Judea to teach the people about God’s law. Many people go with him. (See: law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God)

Ezra 7:1

Ezra’s genealogy goes back to Aaron, the first high priest.

שְׂרָיָ֔ה

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:2. (See: How to Translate Names)

עֲזַרְיָ֖ה…חִלְקִיָּֽה

men’s names (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 7:2

שַׁלּ֥וּם

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:42. (See: How to Translate Names)

צָד֖וֹק…אֲחִיטֽוּב

men’s names (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 7:3

אֲמַרְיָ֥ה…עֲזַרְיָ֖ה…מְרָיֽוֹת

This list is all men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 7:4

זְרַֽחְיָ֥ה…עֻזִּ֖י…בֻּקִּֽי

men’s names (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 7:5

אֲבִישׁ֗וּעַ…פִּֽינְחָס֙…אֶלְעָזָ֔ר

men’s names (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 7:6

וַ⁠יִּתֶּן־ל֣⁠וֹ הַ⁠מֶּ֗לֶךְ…כֹּ֖ל בַּקָּשָׁתֽ⁠וֹ

“The king gave Ezra anything he asked for”

כְּ⁠יַד־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהָי⁠ו֙ עָלָ֔י⁠ו

The “hand” of Yahweh represents Yahweh’s blessing or help. Alternate translation: “the blessing of Yahweh was with Ezra” or “Yahweh was blessing Ezra” (See: Metonymy)

Ezra 7:7

בִּ⁠שְׁנַת־שֶׁ֖בַע לְ⁠אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ

This refers to the seventh year of his reign. Alternate translation: “in the seventh year that Artaxerxes was king” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 7:8

בַּ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הַ⁠חֲמִישִׁ֑י

This is the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar. It is during the last part of July and the first part of August on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

Ezra 7:9

בְּ⁠אֶחָד֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשׁ֔וֹן

This is near the middle of March on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

וּ⁠בְ⁠אֶחָ֞ד לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הַ⁠חֲמִישִׁ֗י

This is near the middle of July on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

כְּ⁠יַד־אֱלֹהָ֖י⁠ו הַ⁠טּוֹבָ֥ה

“Hand” represents the power or control that God uses for good results. (See: Metonymy)

Ezra 7:10

עֶזְרָא֙ הֵכִ֣ין לְבָב֔⁠וֹ לִ⁠דְר֛וֹשׁ

Establishing his heart represents firmly deciding or committing himself to do something. Alternate translation: “Ezra committed his life to study” (See: Metaphor)

וְ⁠לַ⁠עֲשֹׂ֑ת

“obey”

חֹ֥ק וּ⁠מִשְׁפָּֽט

These were the laws that God passed down to Israel through Moses.

Ezra 7:11

וְ⁠זֶ֣ה׀ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן הַֽ⁠נִּשְׁתְּוָ֗ן

The text following this statement was the decree given by King Artaxerxes.

Ezra 7:12

אַ֨רְתַּחְשַׁ֔סְתְּא מֶ֖לֶךְ מַלְכַיָּ֑⁠א

“The King of kings” was a title, meaning that he was the greatest of kings, the king that other kings obeyed. Alternate translation: “The Great King Artaxerxes” or “Artaxerxes, the greatest king” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 7:13

מִנִּ⁠י֮ שִׂ֣ים טְעֵם֒ דִּ֣י כָל־מִתְנַדַּ֣ב…לִ⁠מְהָ֧ךְ לִֽ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֛ם

In those days people needed permission from the king to resettle and rebuild in an area previously destroyed by the conquering nation.

עִמָּ֖⁠ךְ יְהָֽךְ

The word “you” refers to Ezra.

Ezra 7:14

This continues the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra.

מַלְכָּ֜⁠א וְ⁠שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָעֲטֹ֨⁠הִי֙

The word “I” and the phrase “the king” refer to the same person. The king is reminding the people who hear this letter that he is the author of this letter.

לְ⁠בַקָּרָ֥א עַל־יְה֖וּד וְ⁠לִֽ⁠ירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם בְּ⁠דָ֥ת אֱלָהָ֖⁠ךְ

What they were to inquire about can be stated more clearly. Alternate translation: “to investigate the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, in order to learn whether or not they are obeying God’s law” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 7:15

וּ⁠לְ⁠הֵיבָלָ֖ה כְּסַ֣ף וּ⁠דְהַ֑ב

Where they were to bring it can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “You are to bring to Jerusalem the silver and gold” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

הִתְנַדַּ֨בוּ֙

“Freely” means that they were not forced to offer the money. They gave it because they wanted to. Alternate translation: “the silver and gold that they have willingly offered”

Ezra 7:16

הִתְנַדָּב֨וּת עַמָּ֤⁠א וְ⁠כָֽהֲנַיָּ⁠א֙

This can be expressed active form. Alternate translation: “what the people and the priests have freely offered” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 7:17

This continues the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra.

אָסְפַּ֨רְנָא תִקְנֵ֜א בְּ⁠כַסְפָּ֣⁠א דְנָ֗ה תּוֹרִ֤ין׀ דִּכְרִין֙ אִמְּרִ֔ין וּ⁠מִנְחָתְ⁠ה֖וֹן וְ⁠נִסְכֵּי⁠ה֑וֹן

The phrase “in full” means as many as are necessary to complete the task. They were to use the gold and silver to buy all they needed in order to worship God in the temple. Alternate translation: “Buy as many of the oxen, rams, lambs, grain and drink offerings as are needed” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 7:18

עלי⁠ך וְ⁠עַל־אחי⁠ך

The phrase “your brothers” refers to the people who were doing this work with Ezra. Alternate translation: “your co-workers” or “your companions” (See: Metaphor)

Ezra 7:19

This continues the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra.

וּ⁠מָֽאנַיָּ⁠א֙ דִּֽי־מִתְיַהֲבִ֣ין לָ֔⁠ךְ

This can be expressed in active form. Alternate translation: “the objects that we have freely given to you” (See: Active or Passive)

הַשְׁלֵ֕ם קֳדָ֖ם אֱלָ֥הּ יְרוּשְׁלֶֽ

The word “him” refers to God.

לְ⁠פָלְחָ֖ן בֵּ֣ית אֱלָהָ֑⁠ךְ

The abstract noun “service” can be expressed with the verbs “serve” or “use.” Alternate translation: “to use in the house of your God” or “to serve in the house of your God” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ezra 7:20

גִּנְזֵ֥י

a secure place where money is stored

Ezra 7:21

This continues the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra.

דִּ֖י בַּ⁠עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑⁠ה

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated it in Ezra 4:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

דִּ֣י כָל־דִּ֣י יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְ⁠כוֹן עֶזְרָ֨א…אָסְפַּ֖רְנָא יִתְעֲבִֽד

This can be expressed in active form. “Give Ezra in full anything he asks of you” (See: Active or Passive)

אָסְפַּ֖רְנָא יִתְעֲבִֽד

The phrase “in full” here represents whatever quantity necessary to do the work. Alternate translation: “should be given as much as he needs” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 7:22

כְּסַף֮ כַּכְּרִ֣ין מְאָה֒

“100 talents of silver.” You may convert this to a modern measure. Alternate translation: “3,300 kilograms of silver” (See: Numbers and Biblical Weight)

חִנְטִין֙ כֹּרִ֣ין מְאָ֔ה

You may convert this to a modern measure. Alternate translation: “22,000 liters of grain” or “twenty thousand liters of grain” (See: Biblical Volume and Numbers)

בַּתִּ֥ין מְשַׁ֖ח מְאָ֑ה

You may convert this to a modern measure. Alternate translation: 2,200 liters of oil” or “two thousand liters of oil” (See: Biblical Volume and Numbers)

Ezra 7:23

לְ⁠בֵ֖ית

This refers to God’s temple.

דִּֽי־לְ⁠מָ֤ה לֶֽהֱוֵא֙ קְצַ֔ף עַל־מַלְכ֥וּת מַלְכָּ֖⁠א וּ⁠בְנֽוֹ⁠הִי

The king uses this question to say that he does not want God’s wrath to come upon them. The implied information is that if they do not do give Ezra what he needs, then God will punish the kingdom. Alternate translation: “For we do not want God’s wrath to come upon the kingdom of me and my sons.” or “For if you do not do these things, God’s wrath will come upon the kingdom of me and my sons.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

דִּֽי־לְ⁠מָ֤ה לֶֽהֱוֵא֙ קְצַ֔ף עַל־מַלְכ֥וּת מַלְכָּ֖⁠א וּ⁠בְנֽוֹ⁠הִי

God’s wrath represents God punishing them. Alternate translation: “For why should God punish the kingdom of me and my sons” or “For if you do not do these things, God will punish the kingdom of me and my sons” (See: Metonymy)

Ezra 7:24

This continues the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra.

וּ⁠לְ⁠כֹ֣ם מְהוֹדְעִ֗ין דִּ֣י…לָ֥א שַׁלִּ֖יט לְ⁠מִרְמֵ֥א עֲלֵי⁠הֹֽם

“We are telling them not to impose any tribute or taxes”

זַמָּ֨רַיָּ֤⁠א

people who play musical instruments

Ezra 7:25

This is the end of the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra.

כְּ⁠חָכְמַ֨ת אֱלָהָ֤⁠ךְ דִּֽי־בִ⁠ידָ⁠ךְ֙ מֶ֣נִּי שָׁפְטִ֞ין וְ⁠דַיָּנִ֗ין

The abstract noun “wisdom” can be expressed with a verbal phrase. Alternate translation: “God has made you wise, so you must wisely appoint judges and magistrates” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ezra 7:26

הֵ֤ן לְ⁠מוֹת֙ הֵ֣ן ל⁠שרשו הֵן־לַ⁠עֲנָ֥שׁ נִכְסִ֖ין וְ⁠לֶ⁠אֱסוּרִֽין

The abstract nouns can be translated with verbs. Alternate translation: “whether by killing them, banishing them, confiscating their goods, or imprisoning them” or “You may kill them, send them away, take the things the own, or put them in prison” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Ezra 7:27

Ezra praises God because of what King Artaxerxes decreed.

נָתַ֤ן כָּ⁠זֹאת֙ בְּ⁠לֵ֣ב הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ לְ⁠פָאֵ֕ר אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָֽם

Placing things in the king’s heart represents causing him to have certain thoughts and desires. Alternate translation: “caused the king to want to glorify Yahweh’s house in Jerusalem” (See: Metaphor)

בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה

This refers to Yahweh’s temple” (See: Metaphor)

Ezra 7:28

וְ⁠עָלַ֣⁠י הִטָּה־חֶ֗סֶד

The abstract noun “faithfulness” can be stated as “faithful” or “loyal.” Alternate translation: “who has been faithful to me” or “who has been loyal to me” (See: Abstract Nouns)

וַ⁠אֲנִ֣י הִתְחַזַּ֗קְתִּי

Being strengthened represents being encouraged. Alternate translation: I am encouraged” (See: Metaphor)

כְּ⁠יַד־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהַ⁠י֙ עָלַ֔⁠י

Here Yahweh’s hand represents what he did to help Ezra. Alternate translation: “because Yahweh has helped me” (See: Metonymy)

Ezra 8

Ezra 08 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

The people’s return to Judah

Many people went back to Judah with Ezra. They trusted God to protect them and the precious items they carried with them, which had been given for the temple. (See: trust, trusted, trustworthy, trustworthiness)

Ezra 8:1

There is an apparent shift in authorship beginning here. Chapters 1-7 were written as if the author were writing about Ezra. Chapter 8 was written as if the author were Ezra. Verses 2-14 are a list of leaders and their ancestors. All of them are men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 8:2

מִ⁠בְּנֵ֤י פִֽינְחָס֙ גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם

This is the first item in the list. It can be written with the verb “was.” Alternate translation: “The leader of the descendants of Phinehas was Gershom” or “Gershom was the leader of the descendants of Phinehas”

מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י אִיתָמָ֖ר דָּנִיֵּ֑אל

This is the second item in the list. It can be written with the verb “was.” Alternate translation: “The leader of the descendants of Ithamar was Daniel” or “Daniel was the leader of the descendants of Ithamar”

מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י דָוִ֖יד חַטּֽוּשׁ

This is the third item in the list. It can be written with the verb “were.” Alternate translation: “The leaders of the descendants of David were Hattush who was…Parosh; and Zechariah” or “The leaders of the descendants of David were Hattush and Zechariah. Hattush was from…Parosh”

חַטּֽוּשׁ

This is a man’s name.

Ezra 8:3

פַרְעֹ֖שׁ

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:3.

וְ⁠עִמּ֛⁠וֹ הִתְיַחֵ֥שׂ לִ⁠זְכָרִ֖ים מֵאָ֥ה וַ⁠חֲמִשִּֽׁים

“with Zechariah there were 150 males listed in the record of his genealogy”

לִ⁠זְכָרִ֖ים מֵאָ֥ה וַ⁠חֲמִשִּֽׁי

“one hundred and fifty males” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:4

The list of men’s names continues. (See: How to Translate Names)

מִ⁠בְּנֵי֙ פַּחַ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב אֶלְיְהֽוֹעֵינַ֖י בֶּן־זְרַֽחְיָ֑ה

This is the next item in the list. It can be written with the verb “was.” Alternate translation: “The leader of the descendants of Pahath-Moab was Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah” or “Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah was the leader of the descendants of Pahath-Moab”

וְ⁠עִמּ֖⁠וֹ מָאתַ֥יִם הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים

“with Eliehoenai were two hundred males”

זְרַֽחְיָ֑ה

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 7:4.

מָאתַ֥יִם

“200” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:5

שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת

“300” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:6

עָדִ֔ין

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:15.

חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים

“50” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:7

שִׁבְעִ֥ים

“70” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:8

The list of men’s names continues. (See: How to Translate Names)

וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה זְבַדְיָ֖ה בֶּן־מִֽיכָאֵ֑ל

This is the next item in the list. It can be written with the verb “was.” Alternate translation: “The leader of the descendants of Shephatiah was Zebadiah son of Michael” or “Zebadiah son of Michael was the leader of the descendants of Shephatiah”

שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:2.

מִֽיכָאֵ֑ל

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠עִמּ֖⁠וֹ שְׁמֹנִ֥ים הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים

“with Zebadiah were listed eighty males”

שְׁמֹנִ֥ים

“80” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:9

מָאתַ֛יִם וּ⁠שְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים

“two hundred and eighteen males” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:10

מֵאָ֥ה וְ⁠שִׁשִּׁ֖ים הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים

“one hundred and sixty males” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:11

בֵּבָ֑י

See how you translated this in Ezra 2:11.

עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁמֹנָ֖ה

“28” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:12

This is the end of the list of men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י עַזְגָּ֔ד יוֹחָנָ֖ן בֶּן־הַ⁠קָּטָ֑ן

This is the next item in the list. It can be written with the verb “was.” Alternate translation: “The leader of the descendants of Azgad was Johanan son of Hakkatan” or “Johanan son of Hakkatan was the leader of the descendants of Azgad”

וְ⁠עִמּ֕⁠וֹ מֵאָ֥ה וַ⁠עֲשָׂרָ֖ה הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים

“with Johanan were listed 110 males”

מֵאָ֥ה וַ⁠עֲשָׂרָ֖ה הַ⁠זְּכָרִֽים

“one hundred and ten males” (See: Numbers)

עַזְגָּ֔ד

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:12.

Ezra 8:13

וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִיקָם֮

The word “those” refers to the leaders. Alternate translation: “The leaders of the descendants of Adonikam”

אֲדֹנִיקָם֮

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:13.

שִׁשִּׁ֥ים

“60” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:14

בִגְוַ֖י

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:2.

שִׁבְעִ֥ים

“70” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:15

The word “I” in chapter 8 refers to Ezra. He is the author. Verse 16 contains a list of men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַ⁠נָּהָר֙ הַ⁠בָּ֣א אֶֽל־אַהֲוָ֔א

Possible meanings are that the “canal” was (1) a waterway that men built or (2) an ordinary river. It can be translated in a more general way. Alternate translation: “the waterway that flows to Ahava”

אַהֲוָ֔א

This is the name of a place (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 8:16

לִֽ֠⁠שְׁמַעְיָה

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 8:13.

וּ⁠לְ⁠אֶלְנָתָ֨ן וּ⁠לְ⁠יָרִ֜יב וּ⁠לְ⁠אֶלְנָתָ֧ן

There were apparently three men with the same name.

Ezra 8:17

אִדּ֨וֹ

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

וָאֲצַוֶּ֤ה אוֹתָ⁠ם֙

The word “them” refers to the nine leaders and two teachers written about in Ezra 8:16. Alternate translation: “Next I sent those men to Iddo” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

בְּ⁠כָסִפְיָ֣א

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

וָ⁠אָשִׂימָ⁠ה֩ בְּ⁠פִי⁠הֶ֨ם דְּבָרִ֜ים לְ֠⁠דַבֵּר אֶל־אִדּ֨וֹ…לְ⁠הָֽבִיא־לָ֥⁠נוּ מְשָׁרְתִ֖ים לְ⁠בֵ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽי⁠נוּ

The words “that is” introduces what he told them to say. Alternate translation: “I told them to tell Iddo…to send us servants for the house of God”

Ezra 8:18

מַחְלִ֔י…וְ⁠שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֛ה

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

וַ⁠יָּבִ֨יאּוּ לָ֜⁠נוּ כְּ⁠יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ הַ⁠טּוֹבָ֤ה עָלֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ

God’s “good hand” represents his kindness in providing for them. Alternate translation: “Because God was kind to us, they sent us a man” (See: Metonymy)

אִ֣ישׁ שֶׂ֔כֶל

This is a man of understanding and wisdom.

בֶּן־לֵוִ֖י בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל

Here “Israel” is a man’s name. It is the name God gave to Jacob.

שְׁמֹנָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר

“18” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:19

חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה…מְרָרִ֑י

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

עֶשְׂרִֽים

“20” (See: Numbers)

יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖ה

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 8:7. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 8:20

וְ⁠הַ⁠שָּׂרִים֙

people with specific authority within a government system

Ezra 8:21

הַ⁠נָּהָ֣ר אַהֲוָ֔א

This is the name of the canal that flows to the place called Ahava. See how you translated Ahava and canal in Ezra 8:15. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠בַקֵּ֤שׁ מִמֶּ֨⁠נּוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְשָׁרָ֔ה לָ֥⁠נוּ וּ⁠לְ⁠טַפֵּ֖⁠נוּ וּ⁠לְ⁠כָל־רְכוּשֵֽׁ⁠נוּ

The word “seek” represents asking God to do something for them. Here a “straight path” represents safety while they travel. Alternate translation: “to ask God to give us, our little ones, and all our possessions safety while we travel” or “to ask God to protect us, our little ones, and all our possessions while we travel” (See: Metaphor)

Ezra 8:22

יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֤י⁠נוּ עַל־כָּל־מְבַקְשָׁי⁠ו֙ לְ⁠טוֹבָ֔ה

The hand of God being on people is a metonym for God helping people. Seeking God is a metaphor for serving him. Alternate translation: “God helps all who serve him” (See: Metonymy and Metaphor)

וְ⁠עֻזּ֣⁠וֹ וְ⁠אַפּ֔⁠וֹ עַ֖ל כָּל־עֹזְבָֽי⁠ו

God’s might and wrath being on people is a metonym for him punishing people. Forgetting God is a metaphor for refusing to serve him. Alternate translation: “but he punishes all who refuse to serve him” (See: Metonymy and Metaphor)

Ezra 8:23

וַ⁠נָּצ֛וּמָ⁠ה וַ⁠נְּבַקְשָׁ֥⁠ה מֵ⁠אֱלֹהֵ֖י⁠נוּ עַל־זֹ֑את

Here seeking God is a metaphor for asking God to do something for them. Alternate translation: “So we fasted and asked God to help us” (See: Metaphor)

Ezra 8:24

לְ⁠שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֣ה חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה

See how you translated these men’s names in Ezra 8:19. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 8:26

כֶּ֗סֶף כִּכָּרִים֙ שֵֽׁשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת וַ⁠חֲמִשִּׁ֔ים

“six hundred and fifty talents of silver.” A talent weighs about thirty-three kilograms. You may convert this to a modern measure. Alternate translation: “22,000 kilograms of silver” (See: Numbers and Biblical Weight)

וּ⁠כְלֵי־כֶ֥סֶף מֵאָ֖ה לְ⁠כִכָּרִ֑ים

“100 talents of silver objects.” You may convert this to a modern measure. Alternate translation: “3,300 kilograms of silver objects” (See: Numbers and Biblical Weight)

זָהָ֖ב מֵאָ֥ה כִכָּֽר

“100 talents of gold.” You may convert this to a modern measure. Alternate translation: “3,300 kilograms of gold” (See: Numbers and Biblical Weight)

Ezra 8:27

לַ⁠אֲדַרְכֹנִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף

“1,000 darics.” A “daric” was a small gold coin that people in the Persian Empire used. You can translate this in terms of the number of coins or their weight. Alternate translation: “one thousand Persian gold coins” or “eight and one half kilograms of gold” (See: Numbers and Biblical Money)

וּ⁠כְלֵ֨י נְחֹ֜שֶׁת

Bronze is a mixture of copper and another metal. It is stronger than pure copper.

Ezra 8:28

וָ⁠אֹמְרָ֣⁠ה אֲלֵ⁠הֶ֗ם

“Then I said to the twelve priestly officials”

Ezra 8:29

עַֽד־תִּשְׁקְל֡וּ לִ⁠פְנֵי֩ שָׂרֵ֨י הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֧ים וְ⁠הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֛ם וְ⁠שָׂרֵֽי־הָ⁠אָב֥וֹת לְ⁠יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they would weigh the silver, gold, and bronze to show that they had not taken any of it for themselves.

Ezra 8:30

הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְ⁠הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֔ם

According to the law of Moses, the tribe of Levi had the work of caring for the temple, its possessions, and the offerings.

Ezra 8:31

וַֽ⁠נִּסְעָ֞⁠ה מִ⁠נְּהַ֣ר אַֽהֲוָ֗א

“We left the Ahava Canal” or “We started traveling from the Ahava Canal”

מִ⁠נְּהַ֣ר אַֽהֲוָ֗א

This is the name of the canal that flows to the place called Ahava. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:21. (See: How to Translate Names)

בִּ⁠שְׁנֵ֤ים עָשָׂר֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשׁ֔וֹן

This is the first month of the Hebrew calendar. The twelfth day is near the end of March on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

וְ⁠יַד־אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ הָיְתָ֣ה עָלֵ֔י⁠נוּ

The hand of God being on people is a metonym for God helping people. Alternate translation: “God was helping us” (See: Metonymy)

וַ⁠יַּ֨צִּילֵ֔⁠נוּ מִ⁠כַּ֥ף אוֹיֵ֛ב וְ⁠אוֹרֵ֖ב עַל־הַ⁠דָּֽרֶךְ

The hand represents what those people might do. It specifically refers to the enemy attacking the group that was traveling. Alternate translation: “he protected us from the attack of the enemy and the ones who wished to ambush us along the road” or “He kept the enemy from attacking us and he kept robbers from ambushing us along the road” (See: Metonymy)

וְ⁠אוֹרֵ֖ב

This refers to thieves and robbers who wanted to attack them for their treasures.

Ezra 8:33

נִשְׁקַ֣ל הַ⁠כֶּסֶף֩ וְ⁠הַ⁠זָּהָ֨ב וְ⁠הַ⁠כֵּלִ֜ים

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “the twelve priestly officials weighed out the silver, gold and objects” (See: Active or Passive)

נִשְׁקַ֣ל הַ⁠כֶּסֶף֩ וְ⁠הַ⁠זָּהָ֨ב וְ⁠הַ⁠כֵּלִ֜ים…עַ֠ל יַד־מְרֵמ֤וֹת

Here “the hand of Meremoth” represents Meremoth’s care of the silver, gold, and objects. The men weighed those things and gave them to Meremoth to take care of them. (See: Metonymy)

מְרֵמ֤וֹת…אֽוּרִיָּה֙…אֶלְעָזָ֣ר…פִּֽינְחָ֑ס…יוֹזָבָ֧ד…יֵשׁ֛וּעַ וְ⁠נֽוֹעַדְיָ֥ה…בִּנּ֖וּי

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

יֵשׁ֛וּעַ

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:6.

Ezra 8:35

הַ֠⁠בָּאִים מֵֽ⁠הַ⁠שְּׁבִ֨י בְנֵֽי־הַ⁠גּוֹלָ֜ה

These two phrases refer to the Jewish people who were living as exiles in Babylon and who left Babylon and returned to Jerusalem in Judea. Alternate translation: “The ones who came back to Jerusalem from the captivity in Babylon, the people of exile”

שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֤ר…תִּשְׁעִ֣ים וְ⁠שִׁשָּׁ֗ה…שִׁבְעִ֣ים וְ⁠שִׁבְעָ֔ה…שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר

“12…96…77…12” (See: Numbers)

Ezra 8:36

וּ⁠פַחֲו֖וֹת עֵ֣בֶר הַ⁠נָּהָ֑ר

These were the Babylonian officials managing the people west of the Euphrates River, which included the people living in Judea.

וּ⁠פַחֲו֖וֹת עֵ֣בֶר הַ⁠נָּהָ֑ר

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. It included Judea. See how you translated it in Ezra 4:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 9

Ezra 09 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Intermarriage

When Ezra found out that many Jews had married Gentile wives, he prayed to God and asked God why he had been so good to them by letting these few people return from captivity even though they sinned by marrying Gentile wives. They did this before and God had punished them for it. God forbid this type of marriage because it caused the people to worship other gods. (See: sin, sinful, sinner, sinning and god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry)

Ezra 9:1

לֹֽא־נִבְדְּל֞וּ

have married people from other lands and have adopted their religion

Ezra 9:3

וּ⁠כְ⁠שָׁמְעִ⁠י֙ אֶת־הַ⁠דָּבָ֣ר הַ⁠זֶּ֔ה

When Ezra heard that many Israelites had married foreign women and were worshiping their gods

קָרַ֥עְתִּי אֶת־בִּגְדִ֖⁠י וּ⁠מְעִילִ֑⁠י וָ⁠אֶמְרְטָ֞⁠ה מִ⁠שְּׂעַ֤ר רֹאשִׁ⁠י֙ וּ⁠זְקָנִ֔⁠י

Ezra was showing everyone how unhappy he was that people were doing things that offended God. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ezra 9:4

לְ⁠מִנְחַ֥ת הָ⁠עָֽרֶב

a sacrifice that the priests would offer around the time the sun was going down

Ezra 9:5

מִ⁠תַּֽעֲנִיתִ֔⁠י

another way of saying he was “sitting ashamed” (Ezra 9:4). “where I was sitting on the ground to show how ashamed I was”

וָֽ⁠אֶכְרְעָ⁠ה֙ עַל־בִּרְכַּ֔⁠י וָ⁠אֶפְרְשָׂ֥⁠ה כַפַּ֖⁠י

“got on my knees and stretched out my arms with my hands open toward the sky”

Ezra 9:6

עֲוֺנֹתֵ֤י⁠נוּ רָבוּ֙ לְ⁠מַ֣עְלָ⁠ה רֹּ֔אשׁ וְ⁠אַשְׁמָתֵ֥⁠נוּ גָדְלָ֖ה עַ֥ד לַ⁠שָּׁמָֽיִם

These words are two ways of speaking of iniquity and guilt as if they were physical objects that could grow to be larger than people. The abstract nouns “iniquity” and “guilt” can be expressed as a noun and an adjective, respectively. Alternate translation: “we have committed wicked deeds and we are very guilty” (See: Parallelism and Abstract Nouns)

Ezra 9:7

מִ⁠ימֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵ֗י⁠נוּ

“the time when our ancestors were alive”

בְּ⁠אַשְׁמָ֣ה גְדֹלָ֔ה…וּ⁠בַ⁠עֲוֺנֹתֵ֡י⁠נוּ

The abstract nouns “guilt” and “iniquity” can be translated as an adjective and a verb, respectively. Alternate translation: “very guilty…Because of the evil deeds we did” (See: Abstract Nouns)

נִתַּ֡נּוּ אֲנַחְנוּ֩…בְּ⁠יַ֣ד׀ מַלְכֵ֣י

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “you gave us…into the hand of kings” (See: Active or Passive)

בְּ⁠יַ֣ד׀ מַלְכֵ֣י הָ⁠אֲרָצ֗וֹת

Here “hand” represents power or control. Alternate translation: “were given into the control of the kings of this world” or “were given over to the kings of this world” (See: Metonymy)

בַּ⁠חֶ֜רֶב בַּ⁠שְּׁבִ֧י וּ⁠בַ⁠בִּזָּ֛ה וּ⁠בְ⁠בֹ֥שֶׁת פָּנִ֖ים

The sword is a metonym for people killing other people. The abstract nouns “captivity” and “plunder” can be stated as verb phrases. And, “faces” is a synecdoche representing the whole person. Alternate translation: “to our enemies to kill us, to capture us, to steal from us, and to cause us shame” (See: Metonymy and Abstract Nouns and Synecdoche)

Ezra 9:8

הָיְתָ֨ה תְחִנָּ֜ה מֵ⁠אֵ֣ת׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗י⁠נוּ

God deciding to be merciful is spoken of as if mercy were a person who could move. Alternate translation: “Yahweh our God has decided to be merciful to us and” (See: Metaphor)

Ezra 9:9

וַֽ⁠יַּט־עָלֵ֣י⁠נוּ חֶ֡סֶד

The abstract noun “faithfulness” can be stated as “faithful” or “loyal.” See how you translated a similar phrase in Ezra 7:28. Alternate translation: “but he as been faithful to us” or “he has been loyal to us” (See: Abstract Nouns)

לִ⁠פְנֵי֩ מַלְכֵ֨י פָרַ֜ס

The king could not literally see the temple, but he did know about what was happening in Jerusalem. Here “sight” is a metonym for what a person knows. Alternate translation: “so that the king of Persia knows about it” (See: Metonymy)

אֶת־בֵּ֤ית אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙

the temple

וְ⁠לָֽ⁠תֶת־לָ֣⁠נוּ גָדֵ֔ר

The wall that keeps people safe is a metaphor for Yahweh protecting his people. Alternate translation: “could keep us safe” (See: Metaphor)

Ezra 9:12

עַד־עוֹלָֽם

“until the end of the ages”

Ezra 9:14

הֲ⁠נָשׁוּב֙ לְ⁠הָפֵ֣ר מִצְוֺתֶ֔י⁠ךָ וּ֨⁠לְ⁠הִתְחַתֵּ֔ן בְּ⁠עַמֵּ֥י הַ⁠תֹּעֵב֖וֹת הָ⁠אֵ֑לֶּה

This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: “it is very wrong that some of us have broken your commandments and made…people.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

הֲ⁠ל֤וֹא תֶֽאֱנַף־…לְ⁠אֵ֥ין שְׁאֵרִ֖ית וּ⁠פְלֵיטָֽה

This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: “I am afraid that you will be angry…escape.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ezra 9:15

הִנְ⁠נ֤וּ

“Pay attention to what I am about to say”

לְ⁠פָנֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙ בְּ⁠אַשְׁמָתֵ֔י⁠נוּ

“You can see that we are all guilty”

אֵ֥ין לַ⁠עֲמ֛וֹד לְ⁠פָנֶ֖י⁠ךָ עַל־זֹֽאת

“you do not think that any person is innocent”

Ezra 10

Ezra 10 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Intermarriages

The people agree to divorce their Gentile wives. Many Jews were involved in these mixed marriages. Divorce should not normally have been common for the Jews to engage in, but marriage with non-Jewish women was not allowed.

Ezra 10:1

וּ⁠כְ⁠הִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל עֶזְרָא֙ וּ⁠כְ֨⁠הִתְוַדֹּת֔⁠וֹ בֹּכֶה֙ וּ⁠מִתְנַפֵּ֔ל

Ezra speaks of himself as if he were someone else. (See: Pronouns)

וּ⁠מִתְנַפֵּ֔ל

quickly went from standing to lying facedown

לִ⁠פְנֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֑ים

in front of the temple

Ezra 10:2

שְׁכַנְיָ֨ה

See how you translated this in Ezra 8:5.

יְחִיאֵ֜ל

See how you translated this in Ezra 8:9.

אֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ מָעַ֣לְנוּ בֵ⁠אלֹהֵ֔י⁠נוּ

This was made as a public confession, not as a boastful claim.

Ezra 10:4

וַ⁠אֲנַ֣חְנוּ עִמָּ֑⁠ךְ

“we will help you”

Ezra 10:6

יְהוֹחָנָ֣ן…אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:8

וְ⁠כֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יָב֜וֹא…יָחֳרַ֖ם כָּל־רְכוּשׁ֑⁠וֹ וְ⁠ה֥וּא יִבָּדֵ֖ל

“The officials would take all the possessions away from anyone who did not come…and would excuse them” or “The people of Judah and Jerusalem would take all the possessions away from anyone who did not come…and would exclude them”

לִ⁠שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַ⁠יָּמִ֗ים

3 days (See: Numbers)

Ezra 10:9

לִ⁠שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַ⁠יָּמִ֗ים

“three days later”

ה֛וּא חֹ֥דֶשׁ הַ⁠תְּשִׁיעִ֖י בְּ⁠עֶשְׂרִ֣ים בַּ⁠חֹ֑דֶשׁ

This is the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar. The twentieth day is near the middle of December on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

בִּ⁠רְחוֹב֙

a large open courtyard in front of the temple

Ezra 10:10

מְעַלְתֶּ֔ם

The abstract noun “treason” can be translated as a verb. Alternate translation: “helped the enemies of your people” (See: Abstract Nouns)

לְ⁠הוֹסִ֖יף עַל־אַשְׁמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

“and now God considers us guilty of worse sin than before”

Ezra 10:11

וְ⁠הִבָּֽדְלוּ֙

move away from, be different from

Ezra 10:13

וְ⁠הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֗ה לֹֽא־לְ⁠י֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ וְ⁠לֹ֣א לִ⁠שְׁנַ֔יִם

This litotes can be translated in positive form. Alternate translation: “we will need a long time to do all this work” (See: Litotes)

Ezra 10:14

לְ⁠עִתִּ֣ים מְזֻמָּנִ֔ים וְ⁠עִמָּ⁠הֶ֛ם זִקְנֵי־עִ֥יר וָ⁠עִ֖יר וְ⁠שֹׁפְטֶ֑י⁠הָ

This can be translated in active form and as separate sentences. Alternate translation: “at the time that you will determine. Let them come with the city elder and the city judges” (See: Active or Passive)

Ezra 10:15

יוֹנָתָ֧ן…עֲשָׂהאֵ֛ל וְ⁠יַחְזְיָ֥ה…תִּקְוָ֖ה…וּ⁠מְשֻׁלָּ֛ם וְ⁠שַׁבְּתַ֥י

men’s names (See: How to Translate Names)

יוֹנָתָ֧ן בֶּן־עֲשָׂהאֵ֛ל וְ⁠יַחְזְיָ֥ה בֶן־תִּקְוָ֖ה עָמְד֣וּ עַל־זֹ֑את

Possible meanings are, (1) these men did not want the city officials to investigate the offenses or (2) they did not want anyone to investigate the people’s marriages.

Ezra 10:16

וַ⁠יַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֮

The people investigated who had married non-Jewish wives.

בְּ⁠י֤וֹם אֶחָד֙ לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָ⁠עֲשִׂירִ֔י

This is the tenth month of the Hebrew calendar. The first day is near the middle of December on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

Ezra 10:17

י֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ הָ⁠רִאשֽׁוֹן

This is near the middle of March on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

Ezra 10:18

יֵשׁ֤וּעַ

See how you translated this in Ezra 2:2.

יֽוֹצָדָק֙

See how you translated this in Ezra 3:2.

מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙…וּ⁠גְדַלְיָֽה

names of men (See: How to Translate Names)

וֶֽ⁠אֱלִיעֶ֔זֶר וְ⁠יָרִ֖יב

See how you translated this in Ezra 8:16.

Ezra 10:20

Ezra continues to list the men who married non-Jewish women.

אִמֵּ֔ר

a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:37.

חֲנָ֖נִי

a man’s name (See: How to Translate Names)

וּ⁠זְבַדְיָֽה

a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:8. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:21

חָרִ֑ם

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:32. (See: How to Translate Names)

מַעֲשֵׂיָ֤ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:18. (See: How to Translate Names)

וּֽ⁠שְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה וִ⁠יחִיאֵ֖ל

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:13. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:22

פַּשְׁח֑וּר

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:37.

אֶלְיוֹעֵינַ֤י מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל נְתַנְאֵ֔ל

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

יוֹזָבָ֖ד

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:33. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:23

Ezra continues to list the men who married non-Jewish women. (See: How to Translate Names)

יוֹזָבָ֣ד

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:33. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:24

אֶלְיָשִׁ֑יב

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:6. (See: How to Translate Names)

שַׁלֻּ֥ם

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:42. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:25

פַרְעֹ֡שׁ

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:3. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠אֶלְעָזָ֔ר

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 7:5. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:26

Ezra continues to list the men who married non-Jewish women. (See: How to Translate Names)

עֵילָ֑ם

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:7. (See: How to Translate Names)

וִ⁠יחִיאֵ֣ל

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 8:9. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:27

זַתּ֑וּא

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:8. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֶלְיוֹעֵנַ֤י

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 10:22. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 10:6. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:28

בֵּבָ֑י

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:11. (See: How to Translate Names)

יְהוֹחָנָ֥ן

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:6. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:29

בָּנִ֑י

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 2:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

מְשֻׁלָּ֤ם

See how you translated this man’s name in Ezra 8:16. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:30

Ezra continues to list the men who married non-Jewish women. (See: How to Translate Names)

פַּחַ֥ת מוֹאָ֖ב

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

בְּנָיָ֤ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:25. (See: How to Translate Names)

מַעֲשֵׂיָה֙

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:18. (See: How to Translate Names)

מַתַּנְיָ֣ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:26. (See: How to Translate Names)

וּ⁠בִנּ֖וּי

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:33. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:31

מַלְכִּיָּ֖ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:25. (See: How to Translate Names)

חָרִ֑ם

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:32. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֱלִיעֶ֧זֶר

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:16. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:32

מַלּ֖וּךְ

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:29. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:33

Ezra continues to list the men who married non-Jewish women. (See: How to Translate Names)

חָשֻׁ֑ם

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:19 (See: How to Translate Names)

זָבָ֣ד

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:27. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֱלִיפֶ֔לֶט

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:13. (See: How to Translate Names)

מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:30. (See: How to Translate Names)

שִׁמְעִֽי

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:23. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:34

בָנִ֔י

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:35

בְּנָיָ֥ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:23. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:36

מְרֵמ֖וֹת

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:33. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:6. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:37

Ezra continues to list the men who married non-Jewish women. (See: How to Translate Names)

מַתַּנְיָ֥ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:26. (See: How to Translate Names)

מַתְּנַ֖י

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:33. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:38

וּ⁠בִנּ֖וּי

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:33. (See: How to Translate Names)

שִׁמְעִֽי

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:23. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:39

וַ⁠עֲדָיָֽה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:26. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:41

Ezra finishes to list the men who married non-Jewish women. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠שֶׁלֶמְיָ֖הוּ

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:39. (See: How to Translate Names)

שְׁמַרְיָֽה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:32. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:42

שַׁלּ֥וּם

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:42. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֲמַרְיָ֖ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 7:3. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:43

נְב֑וֹ

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 2:29. (See: How to Translate Names)

יְעִיאֵ֤ל

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 8:13. (See: How to Translate Names)

זָבָ֣ד

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:27. (See: How to Translate Names)

זְבִינָ֔א יַדַּ֥י וְ⁠יוֹאֵ֖ל

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

בְּנָיָֽה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Ezra 10:25. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ezra 10:44

כָּל־אֵ֕לֶּה

all the men in the list beginning in Ezra 10:20